Rabbi Barry Dov Katz is the RLI Senior Mentor at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. He is a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Institute and a graduate of the Rabbinic Leadership Initiative (RLI) fellowship, Cohort VII.

Barry has served the Bronx community at the Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale (CSAIR) since 1998. At CSAIR, he works with lay leaders to build a vibrant urban synagogue known for its welcoming, educational programs, and vibrant Shabbat community. He focuses on environmental sustainability, inclusion of people with disabilities, welcoming LGBTQ individuals and families, creating connections between Jewish 20’s and 30’s in the Bronx, and building meaningful relationships with Israel.

Since 2007, he has served as an Adjunct Lecturer of Professional and Pastoral Skills at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Under his leadership, CSAIR forged an identity as a teaching shul where rabbinical students serve as interns, learning about congregational life and enriching the community with their passion and skills. He taught at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires for many summers and, most recently, coordinated the work of the Israeli Mishlachat.

Barry is active in interfaith and interracial community work in the Bronx and partners with Jewish leaders in Riverdale to help create positive relationships between the synagogue communities. He was recognized by Tablet as one of “15 American Rabbis You Haven’t Heard Of, But Should” in September 2014. In 2015, he was named by the Forward as one of “America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis.”

Barry enjoys reading novels in Hebrew and English, gardening, walking in Jerusalem, and drinking coffee with friends. He is a sofer stam and recently completed writing his second Megillat Esther. He is married to Shoshi Talesnick. They have three children.